“I’m a candymaker,” Enstrom said, when he introduced himself, referring to his family’s candy store, Enstrom’s, maker of incredible toffee and other treats. Plenty of folks responded with oohs and aahs.

Joe Coors knocked on doors in a Lakewood neighborhood today in an effort to sell himself to voters in November.

“Our country’s in a total mess,” said 67-year-old Molly Chaucer.

“I can help unmess it,” Coors promised.

“I’ve never voted in my life,” Roger Peter told him.

“Now’s your chance,” Coors said. “I’m your man.”

He is working to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter in a district where both men were born and raised. Perlmutter served in the state Senate before being elected to Congress in 2006 from the 7th Congressional District, but Coors is a political neophyte.

And not just any pickup, mind you, a 1954 Chevy 5 Window that’s become a fixture on the campaign trail in Jefferson County.

“My wife Susan got it for me for my 50th birthday and I spent five years of spare time restoring and customizing it,” Tyler said, in an e-mail. “I hot rodded the original engine with Corvette parts, then added disc brakes to stop it. It runs sweet!”

Colorado Republicans, determined to keep the majority in the state House and regain control of the state Senate, today released the name of six legislative candidates to “keep an eye on.”

The six are the first to reach “On the Radar” status as part of the GOP Trailblazer program.

“Similar to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s ‘Young Guns’ program, the Trailblazer program was announced earlier this year with the intent of helping candidates reach benchmarks and goals to run strong and efficient campaigns,” the Colorado GOP said in a news release.

Democrats currently enjoy a 20-15 majority in the Senate, while Republicans have a 33-32 edge in the House. All 65 House seats are up for election, while 20 of the Senate seats are on the ballot.

UPDATE:Rep. Robert Ramirez drops his Senate bid, will run for re-election in the House.

Republican Rick Enstrom

Rep. Max Tyler

Every year on Valentine’s Day each state lawmaker gets a box of toffee from Enstrom Candies — a delivery Rick Enstrom hopes to make in person next year.

The candy company executive is running for the state House, hoping to unseat the Democratic incumbent, Rep. Max Tyler of Lakewood, in a race that cements Jefferson County’s reputation as the epicenter of Colorado politics this year.

State Rep. Ken Summers holds his new granddaughter, 3-week-old, Eliana Summers, on the floor of the session this year. He was surrounded by his his family today when he announced he is running for the Senate next year.

Both currently serve in the state House of Representatives.

“The priority for this next election … will be jobs for Jefferson County,” Summers said in his announcement at Janssen Photography.

It’s the latest move in a game of legislative musical chairs that began when the Colorado Supreme Court this month approved Democratic-drawn maps submitted by the Colorado Reapportionment Commission.

Summers’ decision to run in Senate District 22 instead of another term in the House comes as no surprise to Capitol followers. A new House district pairs three incumbents — Kerr, Summers and Rep. Max Tyler, all of Lakewood — but includes only a portion of Summers’ original district.

Bill Vidal, widely lauded for his brief stint as Denver mayor this year, was among the guests who attended a fundraiser Thursday night for Rep. Dan Pabon.

Asked about retirement, Vidal smiled. “You cannot (believe) how good it feels to sleep in,” he said.

Vidal became mayor in January when John Hickenlooper resigned to become governor. Michael Hancock, who was elected mayor in June, took over the office in July.

Pabon turned 34 on Tuesday and the minimum suggested donation to his campaign was $34. He attracted a large crowd at Ale House at Amato’s, prompting someone in the crowded room to holler “Occupy northwest Denver!”

The Colorado House of Representatives granted initial approval today to legislation that would tighten Colorado’s lenient agricultural tax rules.

Lawmakers were sharply divided over House Bill 1146, which would allow assessors to reclassify up to 2 acres of a farm or ranch at the higher residential tax rate if a home is on the property.

“Trying to get us to more appropriate taxation at the local level is a good thing,” said Rep. Lois Court, D-Denver. “This is fair, and it is equitable.”

The legislation primarily would affect property owners with no real ties to any farming enterprise who are profiting from agricultural land classifications in resort areas like Aspen. Getting such land classified as agricultural can slash property taxes down to practically nothing, often saving property owners tens of thousands of dollars.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.